The Rivers and Mountains

CHAPTER 1: FIRST NIGHT

——Early autumn, In Chang'an, the Imperial City.
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The moon of Chang'an had always been very round. In the early autumn weather, the sky was unclouded, so that one could only see the isolated, pure full moon’s solitary figure hanging in the sky. The splendid moonlight faintly sprinkled down, contrasting against a pool of clear water nearby, causing people to feel a slight chill. 

"That’s all I know." Ye Zijue sat next to the desk, with a hint of chill on her face. Her hand clenched the pen to reveal slightly pale knuckles, seemingly as if she was trying to endure something at all costs. 

The man sitting to one side lightly tapped on the table. After a moment, he lightly smiled: "Junior Apprentice sister, you lied to me."

"What else do you want to know?" Ye Zijue suddenly looked up, her cold eyes beared cold intent. The man shallowly smiled: "You really don’t know Tang San’s army itinerary?" 

"Bai Rongzhi!" Ye Zije gritted her teeth: "As a literary government official, how could I know about these matters?!" 

"Junior Apprentice sister, you have changed." Bai Rongzhi narrowed his eyes, his gaze carrying an intention to delve in deeper: "When you had first entered the palace, you were not like this." When Ye Zijue heard this, she became silent. After a long time, she finally said: "Brother, lets... stop..."

"Are you joking with me?" Bai Rongzhi immediately interrupted her. Under the dim light of the night, the man's elegant eyebrows carried intentions to kill: "We have been planning for three years, gathering soldiers for five years, and now you want me to give up? The rivers and mountains are within reach, you can’t be muddle headed now! Not saying anything else..." Bai RongZhi’s voice slowly softened down: "And you, having painstakingly gotten close Su Yuanan, scheming at his side for so many years. As a woman, you dressed as a man to enter the imperial court Everything you have sacrificed, do you not want them to pay it back?"

"But, he is a good emperor.” She tightly clenched the brush: "He is not as the rumors say, an incapable ruler, that was his father. The mistakes were made by his ancestors and he is currently working to..." 

"But that is impossible for him!" Bai Rongzhi coldly spoke: "The Da Xuan Empire has already completely decayed. How will he alone be able to turn the tide?" 

"The one with the surname of Yang may not necessarily be a good person either!" Ye Zijue was a little agitated: "He acts as though this is to save the common people, but in actuality, this is just to fulfill his own selfish desires! " 

"But I’ll be here." Bai Rong Zhi looked up, staring fixedly at her in the dark: "As long as I am here to protect the common people, they would never have to worry about food or clothing and can live a comfortable life. "

"You are just a military advisor. Once he really enters the Imperial City, what can you even do..." 

"Junior Apprentice sister, you are just looking for a reason to give up." Bai Rongzhi said with a smile: "You have long forgotten your original intention, and fell in love with him instead, right?"

The cold night wind wafted by, and Ye Zijue's hand faintly trembled. Bai Rongzhi slowly stood up and sighed softly, before turning to walk out. After a long time, the sound of urgent knocking was heard from the door. Just as Ye Zijue opened the door, she saw a servant standing in front of the door who hurriedly said: "Lord Ye, His majesty gave out an urgent imperial order!